“A year ago, Hamas perpetrated a brutal attack that hit hundreds of innocent Israeli victims. Many of them died and others are still hostages of the terrorist group, in what turned into a cowardly attack on the entire Jewish people”. The Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said as much on the eve of the commemoration of the first anniversary of 7 October. He added: “It is essential to reach an immediate ceasefire to allow the release of hostages and also access to humanitarian aid to Gaza, objectives for which the Italian government has been endeavouring since the beginning of the crisis. These are priorities for Italy and for the G7. One year on, Italy is once again standing close to the Jewish communities around the world".

In order to commemorate the anniversary of the tragic terrorist attack, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani –on a mission to Argentina today– will take part in a commemorative ceremony in Buenos Aires together with local Jewish associations and representatives, also to reiterate his personal commitment and that of the entire Italian government against all forms of anti-Semitism.

Upon the Minister’s instructions, in Rome, the Foreign Ministry’s Secretary General, Ambassador Riccardo Guariglia, will lay a laurel wreath in front of the monument to the “Righteous of the Farnesina”, located in front of the Foreign Ministry, in a ceremony attended by the staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

It should be recalled that on 7 October 2023, Hamas and other terrorist groups perpetrated a sudden attack penetrating Israeli territory along the border with the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, including 800 civilians. Over 250 people were taken hostage. Many of them have not yet returned to their families.